Operation PP: Time Flies.

About

Game development is hard.Before committing to Zapling Bygone, I created a ton of "Just for fun" projects. This allowed me to learn the ropes in an environment where it didn't matter if I failed. I created a load of small throwaway games for the fun of it. Some of these games got lost or deleted, and some were uncovered in the depths of my old harddrive. I decided to rescue as many of them as I cou…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 146 reviews

story10 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging movement system that feels fluid and responsive, making exploration enjoyable.
Zapling Bygone has a captivating atmosphere with well-designed pixel art and sound design that enhances the overall experience.
The combat is satisfying, with challenging bosses that require strategic thinking and skill to defeat.

The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs and crashes that can disrupt gameplay.
The save point system is frustrating, requiring players to purchase save points, which can lead to tedious backtracking after deaths.
The map design and guidance are lacking, often leaving players feeling lost and unsure of where to go next.

story
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
62%
9%
The game's story is presented through collectible comic panels and lore notes, offering a mix of engaging and vague narratives that some players found gripping while others felt it lacked depth and clarity. While the unique biomes and their backstories contribute to the overall setting, opinions vary on the story's impact, with some praising its intriguing elements and others deeming it forgettable. Overall, the storytelling approach is seen as a highlight for many, despite criticisms regarding character attachment and narrative coherence.
- “This is a fairly short 4-5 hour game but it has a good story that is told through a combination of unlockable comic-style panels and lore notes that you can find once you add more personalities to your hivemind.”
- “The story was surprisingly gripping and interesting, the comic that tells the story being the main reward for exploration, and it made me really comb every area because I wanted to know more about the world that had been set up and the boss of the area that I was about to meet / had just met.”
- “The story and lore is incredibly interesting and fun to figure out.”
- “I'm not sure if I understood everything; the story itself didn't manage to grab me and make me invested in it.”
- “The story is pretty vague and does not carry much impact to the game itself.”
- “The story felt very confused and I can tell that for the developer it seemed obvious, but to me, I was just wandering around and finding things out.”
gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
58%
10%
The gameplay of "Zapling Bygone" is a mixed experience, with some players enjoying the exploration and mechanics while others criticize its technical flaws and lack of direction. While the combat and platforming are generally smooth and engaging, the game struggles with clarity in its mechanics and level design, leading to a somewhat derivative experience compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, it offers fun moments and interesting areas to explore, but it may not fully satisfy those seeking innovation or depth in gameplay.
- “I found the gameplay and exploration pretty fun despite its short length.”
- “Incredibly fun gameplay with engaging bosses and interesting areas to explore.”
- “Controlling Zapling is very smooth, combat and exploration is fun, and I like some of the more unique alien mechanics, such as sliding along walls and controlling different skulls.”
- “The game has too many flaws both technically and gameplay-wise to be a straight recommendation to most gamers, and this game really falls into the gray area between recommending it or not.”
- “The mechanics were a bit rough for me too, with jumping feeling a bit floaty and contact damage meaning that it was easy to take a double hit from an enemy. It's also a bit directionless; the game doesn't really guide you in any way through the world, so it can take a moment to figure out where you should be going sometimes.”
- “It stays firmly within the confines of the genre, adds nothing new in terms of exploration of the world (the usual dash, double/triple jumps, etc.), combat mechanics (attack, dash, attack jump, etc.), or story.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
63%
14%
The graphics of *Zapling Bygone* feature a distinctive pixel art style that, while not highly detailed, effectively conveys mood and atmosphere, contributing to the game's overall aesthetic of despair and uncertainty. Players appreciate the unique art direction and the consistency across different areas, although some note the presence of graphical bugs and a lack of resolution options. Overall, the visuals are seen as charming and fitting for the game's retro-inspired design, despite comparisons to more polished titles in the genre.
- “The game delivers on the aesthetic and overall feeling of despair and uncertainty, trying to survive the effects of what's happening, visual and audio-wise.”
- “I'd heard some good things about it, and I think that the game looks great and keeps to its theme and aesthetic really well.”
- “Artwork styles are consistent yet diverse, and each area feels unique on its own while also making sense as part of a larger world.”
- “It's an average entry in a flooded sea of lazy, obsolete amateur platformers from developers who haven't quite worked out how 3D graphics work.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
19%
14%
The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its quality and atmospheric fit within the gameplay. While some noted that the default volume is too low, others highlighted specific tracks as standout features that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is described as immersive, eerie, and a significant draw for players, contributing to the game's unique ambiance.
- “The music is insanely good, my only complaint being that the default for the music is bizarrely low - I ended up turning the music up to 100% and everything else much lower because it was such a huge draw for me.”
- “The atmosphere is uniquely surreal and desolate, especially aided by the soundtrack.”
- “Exploration, atmosphere, and music are all amazing as well.”
- “The soundtrack is sadly non-existent or so ambient that you're not sure whether it's actual ambient noises or music.”
- “I remember when this game only had a single area, one enemy type, one boss, three stock pieces of music and one power-up.”
- “Pretty good 'metroidlike' is what I think this game is, very focused and tight gameplay, old-school graphics but the music and controls are on beat.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dark, surreal, and alien qualities, creating a chilling yet engaging experience. Reviewers highlight the unique setting, complemented by an evocative soundtrack, which enhances the exploration and overall tone. This distinctive atmosphere sets it apart from other metroidvania titles, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.
- “The atmosphere is uniquely surreal and desolate, especially aided by the soundtrack.”
- “This game offers a unique setting and atmosphere not present in any other metroidvania game I've played.”
- “Independent designers of metroidvanias often aim to recreate the desolate atmosphere of the first Metroid, but the task is no easy feat.”
- “The atmosphere and slight horror vibe to the game are chilling at times and keep things fun.”
- “For metroidvania fans, fans of macabre atmospheres, and people who love to dig into the world of a game, this purchase is 100% worth it!”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only minor visual glitches and occasional issues like stuck enemies reported. These bugs do not significantly hinder the overall gaming experience.
- “The tiles often look buggy.”
- “Bugs are minimal and so far not game-breaking, with only minor visual glitches or the occasional stuck enemy.”
- “Some glitches, but none of them hinder the experience.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to the lack of map markers for remaining collectibles, which leads to prolonged searching and frustration. While the collectible hunt can be enjoyable, the design choices make it feel more like a chore, often prompting players to seek external help to avoid excessive time spent searching.
- “There are no markers on the map to indicate the remaining mutation collectibles, memory photo collectibles, and skull fragment collectibles left. As much as I enjoyed finding the various collectibles, as the amount of collectibles remaining decreases, this leads to more time searching, which doesn't really help with having the area revealed regardless of whether you went to that part of the location or not. Because of this, it can be tedious to try and figure out where to go, which may encourage people to look up a video walkthrough online if they don't want to spend time searching for the remaining collectibles.”
- “This game has some charm, but rather than good game design, it features tedious game design.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by clever writing and well-timed comedic moments that feel natural rather than forced. Players appreciate the blend of spooky elements with lighthearted surprises, contributing to an engaging and entertaining experience.
- “The story is phenomenal, with well-written dialogue, lots of fun surprises, and more than a few funny moments that manage to pull off comedy in a video game without it feeling forced.”
- “It was obvious and kind of funny, like the game expects me to get to it and be like 'Oh, what's this? No, I have not ever seen this before. How spooky and eerie!'”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is praised for its innovative blend of exploration and combat mechanics, allowing players to discover new abilities that enhance traversal and combat against enemies and bosses. This design encourages a dynamic gameplay experience reminiscent of classic 2D platformers while introducing fresh elements.
- “I've played 2D platformers from the Super Mario and LittleBigPlanet series, but I've never experienced one that allows for such exploration in various locations. The ability to find new skills to access previously unreachable areas while engaging in melee and ranged combat with enemies and bosses is truly unique. The diverse abilities significantly enhance combat performance.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that are perceived as cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices.
- “Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”

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5h Median play time

5h Average play time

5-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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